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SilverWings
Yearling
United Kingdom
740 Posts |
 Posted - 23/06/2013 : 14:37:42
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Hey guys, I'm a bit concerned about Diego, he doesn't seem quite right lately. Firstly, I think he may be having some problems with his jaw. Here is a picture of when I first got him;
And this was taken this morning;
Am I just imagining the sagging on the left side of the picture? He's looked like that for ages, and frequently adjusts just that side of his mouth, sort of yawning but not quite. I've had a look inside his mouth, no signs of mouth rot or ulcers that I can see, although he has terrible breath. How can a snake that hasn't eaten in 4 months smell like dead things?!?
His second issue is drinking. He's having a lot of trouble finding the surface of his water, he weaves and bobs at it, then just dives right in with his face against the bottom of the bowl, sucks like mad, and surfaces, gasping for air. I wasn't sure at first whether he was actually having trouble with it, or just being silly with the water, but I offered his a dish this morning with a very shallow amount of water. He went straight for it, face on the bottom of the bowl, and emptied the dish several times. This just isn't right. I know he used to be able to drink, but lately his movement is very strange when his head is off the ground, weaving, bobbing. It's like he can't keep his head in one spot, unlike Luna whose movements are very deliberate. I don't think it's stargazing, this is a recent issue and surely it would have shown itself a while ago; he's an adult corn now. Plus he has no issues righting himself when he's upside down...I did read that starvation can cause ataxia and wondered if this might be a factor, but his prolonged fast is his own fault, he just won't eat. He's lost all his body fat, his hips are totally gone, although he is holding good muscle tone.
Finally, he is very lumpy towards his tail end when you apply pressure. It feels like lots of small 'pops'. I suspected cloacoliths, because i read they can be caused by dehydration, but he pooped last night with no issues (albeit a very tiny amount, he hasnt eaten in ages). The lumps cannot be seen, only felt.
Any advice would be appreciated, or any thoughts on what his issue(s) might be. He will be having a trip to the vet anyway, I'd just like some input in the meantime. Thanks :) |
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 18:55:41
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| Sorry, I have no idea, but it definitely doesn't sound right so I wanted to wish you all the best at the vets. If he is having problems with his jaw maybe that's why he's stopped eating? |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 20:40:34
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Must admit I can't easily see anything wrong in the pic but it definitely sounds as though there is an issue that needs to be dealt with. No idea what it could be, sorry. Please let us know what happens.
Do you have a reptile/exotic vet near you?
Xxx
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SilverWings
Yearling
United Kingdom
740 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 20:51:15
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| Yeah, there's a few, I'm going to give some a call, probably ask my normal pet shop if they'd recommend one too, they have some reptile specialists there. |
2.2.3 Corn snakes; Red, Rosie, Liana, Checkers, Luna, Diego, Snowman
1.0 Taiwanese Beauty Snake; Aleron
1.0 Green Anoles; Doug
1.0 Greyhound; Lee |
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ScaryVonHayleystine
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1773 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 21:18:17
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| I personally cant see issues in the picture, but ive never heard of a snake showing those kind of symptoms :S so im not of any use but hope a vet can give you some sort of answer. Best of luck. |
Albino Addiction ... <3
0.1.0 - Creamsicle Cornsnake (Mo)
1.0.0 - Bubblegum Snow Corn (Gabriel)
1.0.0 - Lavendar 100% Het Hypo Corn (Ezra)
1.0.0 - Bairds Rat Snake (Lazarus)
0.0.1 - Crested Gecko (Pan) |
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Slinkey23
Hatchling
United Kingdom
134 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 22:15:41
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Hope its nothing too serious.... Get well soon diego  |
1.0.0 Carolina Corn
1.0.0 staffordshire bull terrier |
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AcidicAngel
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1212 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2013 : 22:41:50
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Is he rubbing his jaw on things in the viv? Sakana did something to her jaw once and the left side drooped a bit. I think I have a picture somewhere, let me go see if I do. I can't explain the diving and the bumps though  I think Sakana was unable to re-adjust her properly after a meal which left it wonky and uncomfortable for her./ Maybe he's dunking because his jaw is unsettled and he's trying to knock it back into place? Still doesn't explain the lumps though... |
Corn Snakes.
1.0 Butter - Cereus.
1.0 Caramel Stripe het Amel - Vladimir.
0.1 Normal het Amel, Caramel, Hypo - Amara.
0.1 Masque het Amel, Anery, Charcoal, Diffused, Hypo, Lavender, Stripe - Aurelia.
1.0 Masque Anery het Amel, Charcoal, Diffused, Hypo, lavender, Stripe - Orion.
Leopard Gecko's.
Too many to list!!
Rat Snake.
1.0 Yellow Rat Snake - Leviathan(Levi)
Western Hognoses
1.0 Normal 50% poss het Frosted(Dutch Hypo, Caramel) - Thorne.
0.1 Frosted - Rose.
1.0 Anaconda het Snow(Amel, Anery) - Titan.
0.1 Normal het Snow(Amel, Anery) - Nyx.
R.I.P Pandora & Sakana, entwined in my heart forever my darlings. |
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ScaryVonHayleystine
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1773 Posts |
Posted - 24/06/2013 : 08:50:14
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| Any updates? |
Albino Addiction ... <3
0.1.0 - Creamsicle Cornsnake (Mo)
1.0.0 - Bubblegum Snow Corn (Gabriel)
1.0.0 - Lavendar 100% Het Hypo Corn (Ezra)
1.0.0 - Bairds Rat Snake (Lazarus)
0.0.1 - Crested Gecko (Pan) |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2013 : 09:32:44
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Have you managed to get Diego to a vet yet? If you're struggling to find one this might help - http://www.reptilevets.co.uk/ Sorry, should have thought to give it to you sooner  .
Xxx
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2013 : 11:02:34
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| Um, that site doesn't seem to work any more Kellog ;) |
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SilverWings
Yearling
United Kingdom
740 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2013 : 19:38:17
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| He's hopefully going to the vet on Monday, assuming I can book the appointment. He is, however, looking a lot better. I force fed him some minced rabbit a few days ago (not ideal, but minced mouse is hard to come by). He absolutely hated it, but I got about a pinky worth down him, and he seems to have picked up a lot since then. His jaw has settled itself and he is a lot more deliberate in his movements. Haven't observed him drinking yet. I weighed him and found he'd lost 250g, and now weighs just over 800 (still a good weight for a corn, but 250g in 4 months is worrying). Still going to the vet though, he definitely needs a checkup. |
2.2.3 Corn snakes; Red, Rosie, Liana, Checkers, Luna, Diego, Snowman
1.0 Taiwanese Beauty Snake; Aleron
1.0 Green Anoles; Doug
1.0 Greyhound; Lee |
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Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2013 : 21:01:51
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Thanks for pointing that out Smartbunny, should have checked. Looks like they've revamped their website - http://www.reptile-vets.co.uk/
I'm glad you got Diego to eat and that he seems a bit better, but am also glad you are still getting him checked out. Kellog lost just over 100g this year, in the 3 months he decided he was more interested in females than food, and at least Diego is a good weight so the weight loss isn't a major worry yet.
As far as the drinking is concerned, a lot of people don't see their snakes drink as they do it at night so I wouldn't be too worried.
Please let us know how you get on.
Xxx
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ScaryVonHayleystine
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1773 Posts |
Posted - 26/06/2013 : 21:21:38
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| Good luck at the vets. |
Albino Addiction ... <3
0.1.0 - Creamsicle Cornsnake (Mo)
1.0.0 - Bubblegum Snow Corn (Gabriel)
1.0.0 - Lavendar 100% Het Hypo Corn (Ezra)
1.0.0 - Bairds Rat Snake (Lazarus)
0.0.1 - Crested Gecko (Pan) |
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Not quite right :/
